The Korea Herald

Lee names vice ministers of finance, home affairs

Sept 6, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday shuffled three senior finance officials to fill an empty post a week after promoting first vice minister of finance Lim Jong-ryong to minister of the Prime Minister’s Office.Shin Je-yoon, vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission, will succeed Lim, preside
Ahn won’t run, supports Park for Seoul mayoral by-election

Sept 6, 2011

Popular professor, civic activist agree on latter’s candidacyAfter days of speculation, Professor Ahn Cheol-soo ended his dalliance with candidacy for Seoul mayor on Tuesday, giving an endorsement to lawyer-turned-civil activist Park Won-soon.“Park has long dedicated himself to promoting civil right
Ahn-Park alliance to sway election

Sept 6, 2011

Park’s unified candidacy keeps both ruling, opposition parties waryThe weeklong media hype over Ahn Cheol-soo’s hint at running for Seoul mayor ended up as a litmus test of his popularity and the prevailing dissatisfaction with existing political parties.Some even say that the 49-year-old entreprene
To cut or not to cut

Sept 6, 2011

Budget planners, politicians in head-on clash over tax cuts for the rich, corporationsBillionaire investor Warren Buffett’s recent call for higher taxes on the U.S.’s super rich drew much attention from Koreans.Korean media also reported moves by wealthy Europeans to follow Buffett’s lead by offerin
[URGENT] Ahn gives up Seoul mayor candidacy

Sept 6, 2011

Popular professor, civic activist agree on latter’s candidacyAfter days of speculation, Professor Ahn Cheol-soo ended his dalliance with candidacy for Seoul mayor on Tuesday, giving an endorsement to lawyer-turned-civil activist Park Won-soon.“Park has long dedicated himself to promoting civil right
Cabinet passes bill to extend paternity leave to 5 days

Sept 6, 2011

Male workers will be able to have up to five days off for paternity leave when their wives give birth under a revision bill that passed the Cabinet meeting Tuesday, the government said.Workers can currently get three days of unpaid leave when their spouses give birth. The bill, which awaits parliame
Ahn’s overwhelming popularity raises speculation of new party

Sept 5, 2011

With entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo tipped to enter the Seoul mayoral race, there is speculation that he might start a new political party.Yoon Yeo-joon, a former Grand National Party lawmaker and election strategist, offered Sunday to take charge of Ahn’s election campaign. He also pre
Opinion polls show overwhelming support for Ahnlab founder as

Sept 5, 2011

Ahn Cheol-soo, a potential dark-horse candidate for Seoul mayor, is far ahead of other possible contenders from both the ruling and opposition parties, multiple surveys showed Monday.Ahn Cheol-soo (Yonhap News)Ahn, a former doctor, rose to fame in the 1990s after establishing Ahnlab Inc., one
Ahn’s hint at mayoral bid stirs up parties

Sept 4, 2011

By Kim So-hyunThe rise of venture entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo as a prospective independent candidate in the Seoul mayoral election has added to the disquiet in political parties struggling to keep support ratings from falling further.Ahn, who has long been wooed by both sides, said F
Panel to hold first audit of overseas offices

Sept 4, 2011

The parliamentary state affairs committee, which supervises key state financial bodies, is to audit the overseas branches of its affiliated organs for the first time in the upcoming state inspection.It is thus to be the first parliamentary committee, besides foreign affairs, to include overseas offi
Seoul seeks protection for Korean sailors on foreign ships

Sept 4, 2011

The Seoul government is striving to strengthen measures to ensure the safety of South Korean sailors aboard foreign ships as Somali piracy targeting its citizens continues, a government official said Sunday.Following a recent series of piracy cases involving its nationals, it has toughened security
Sohn struggles to overcome setbacks

Sept 4, 2011

DP leader’s handling of scandals and divisions seen as test of presidential potentialRep. Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is grappling with a spate of political setbacks including an bribery scandal involving Seoul’s liberal education superintendent.Observers said that
Cornered Kwak faces probe Monday

Sept 4, 2011

By Bae Hyun-jungThe prosecution is set to question Seoul education chief Kwak No-hyun on Monday over allegations that he bought his rival out of the race in last year’s election, after investigators rounded off their preliminary probe on key aides over the weekend.Kwak admitted on Aug. 28 that he ha
U.S. sends aid to flood-stricken N. Korea

Sept 3, 2011

(AP) -- The United States sent a plane loaded with a small but symbolic shipment of emergency aid that was due to arrive in flood-stricken North Korea on Saturday, in the latest sign of a thaw in relations between the countries. A cargo plane departed Friday from the U.S. packed with $90
Korea expands job opportunities for high school graduates

Sept 3, 2011

The government should set a quota for the recruitment of high school graduates when hiring new employees, President Lee Myung-bak said Friday. Presiding over a meeting on his “fair society” campaign, he strongly challenged the deep-rooted workplace practice of favoring employees by school diploma ra